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Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people make exceptional progress in all aspects of their development.  The care that young people receive is personalised and reflective of their individual needs.  Staff actively encourage the young people’s involvement in their own day-to- day care.  Professionals can identify progress that the young people are making and the positive impact that the home is having on them.  The staff team are highly effective. They work well together and receive excellent support and guidance from managers.  Safeguarding and child protection is prioritised.  The registered manager is experienced, knowledgeable and capable.  Young people enjoy positive and supportive relationships with staff.  Young people live in a caring and nurturing home where their needs are prioritised.  Staff are well trained and use research-based practice to enhance their care of young people.  The registered manager and staff team strives to deliver a service which

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

aims to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people.  The registered manager constantly explores ways to improve through robust self-evaluation.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Outstanding

Young people are well matched with one another and placements are well planned from the start. The young people have the option to visit the home, stay for a meal and overnight if they wish before they move in. There is a child-friendly welcome guide which helps them to understand what to expect. The views of young people who are currently living in the home are taken into consideration when placing a new young person. This all helps to promote a smooth transition and to sustain long-term placements. The young people are making excellent progress in relation to their starting points. Young people thrive because outstanding staff create such a secure, nurturing and positive atmosphere. Staff enjoy spending their time with the young people. They play games and put on show performances together. Through these, the young people gain confidence and learn how to share adult attention. Staff practice is exceedingly warm, considered and skilled. Young people blossom due to their

p.5

Outstanding

positive attachments with staff. Staff use evidence-based practice to help them to understand the attachments and behaviours of the young people in the home. Having this knowledge and understanding helps them to deliver personalised care packages for each young person. One professional stated, ‘I have found staff to be very welcoming and knowledgeable about the child and her behaviours. The child clearly feels settled and content in their environment and appears proud to live there.’ The progress of young people is very well evidenced in the home. The use of bespoke and detailed progress-tracking documents ensures that all staff are able to record the excellent progress that young people are making. Furthermore, young people are already actively engaged in reviewing and recording their progress and they contribute effectively to the process. This develops a sense of ownership for young people and also ensures that they are able to articulate their

p.5

Outstanding

achievements and plans for the future. Regular key working and link sessions take place, where progress and future needs are routinely discussed. One professional commented, ‘The young person at [the home] went there following a succession of placement breakdowns. They have managed to settle her and have put in place strategies that help her in regard to her social interactions and behavioural responses. As a result she is a lot better in herself.’ Young people’s files are up to date and contain all the required information. They are routinely checked for consistency and content. This ensures that all recorded details are in place and any concerns are quickly identified or evidenced. Young people’s self-esteem and confidence are promoted through a wide range of varied and focused activities, both within and outside the home. Activities are planned and enjoyable, but also facilitated with purpose. They concentrate on

p.5

Outstanding

developing social skills and relationships, and enjoying healthy living. The young people are encouraged to choose the activities that they would like to do as well as staff suggesting new experiences. The young people are very much a part of the local community. They take part in local activities, attend local schools and have friendships with the local residents. The young people have friends to stay and enjoy birthday celebrations of their choice together with their friends. Photographs are taken and displayed around the home. This all supports their sense of belonging and aids positive memories of childhood for the future. School attendance, engagement and achievements have improved significantly. Education and learning is a high priority and the support provided is based on comprehensive assessments of needs. Staff are well aware of young people’s previous experiences at school, such as limited attendance and difficult

p.6

Outstanding

relationships. Staff provide a great deal of support to help sustain the considerable progress already made. The manager advocates strongly on behalf of young people to promote and provide learning arrangements. An excellent balance is achieved between the young person’s own aims and aspirations and the need to make academic progress. Where appropriate to do so, young people are encouraged to develop their readiness for adulthood. This is reflected in the key skills that young people have developed. For example, young people are encouraged to plan, shop and cook their own meals. This ensures that young people, where appropriate, are able to develop their own self-resilience and life skills. Young people are also encouraged to develop a budget for their money, to save and to make plans for the future. A young person who had recently moved on from the home commented: ‘It was the best home I’ve been to, the staff there were great, it felt like a homely

p.6

Outstanding

environment. They prepared me to move on. They helped with budgeting, they taught me to be independent.’ Feedback from placing social workers, schools and a previous young person is extremely complimentary about the care young people receive. Comments included: ‘They have been exceedingly good at responding to our concerns almost immediately’; ‘They are outstanding’; ‘We have had some difficult moments with [the young person], they have been at the school immediately’; ‘They call us straight back, they are excellent in supporting [the young person]’; ‘We have been delighted.’ And another commented, ‘Physically it is one of the best residential provisions I have seen for children who are looked after.’ Young people speak very warmly of the home. One young person commented, ‘The staff are really nice, they care for us. I feel safe, they make sure if we go out they know where we are. We do work around stranger danger and things to help

p.6

Outstanding

us.’ Another young person commented, ‘We have strops sometimes but we get on well. They are really nice here and I like living here.’

p.7

Outstanding

The young people feel very safe and secure in the home and with the staff who look after them. This is because the staff who work at the home are knowledgeable and clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff work in partnership with each other as well as with other professionals and are consistent in sharing the information necessary to promote welfare and safety. Successful communication and practices exist because of effective leadership that reflects the home’s values and that prioritises information, keeping everyone safe. Staff promote and encourage a culture of trust and respect between everyone in the home. The young people are supported to take responsibility for their behaviour. Staff use their relationship skills, knowledge gained through training, research-based practice and experience to encourage and reinforce socially acceptable behaviour. Staff are excellent at listening to young people and, as a

p.7

Outstanding

result, young people’s behaviour problems have been minimised. Young people are now able to make positive decisions about their behaviour. This is demonstrated by the decrease in physical restraint and incidents. Staff help young people to understand their behaviour, the reasons for this, and to devise coping mechanisms. This in turn helps them to make more positive and informed choices. This has had a positive impact on the young people and their ability to make and retain meaningful friendships. Their behaviour is now more regulated, which in turns helps to keep them safe. There have been no occasions of missing from the home since it opened. This is because young people feel safe and they are able to discuss their concerns, worries and difficulties. The staff team are alert to changes in the young people’s behaviour and are proactive in developing support strategies. This is further enhanced through regular team meetings, where safeguarding is discussed.

p.7

Outstanding

The use of restraint is appropriate and is used only where absolutely necessary. This is further supported by detailed discussions with young people following any incidents. The registered manager reviews these incidents and supports staff in identifying patterns and trends. This information is also used to update behaviour and risk management plans. As a result of this, staff are working with the most up- to-date information to help keep the young people safe. Similarly, the uses of sanctions are appropriate and contribute to helping young people to manage their behaviour.

p.7

Outstanding

This is the home’s first inspection since it’s registration in August 2015. The registered manager holds a level 4 in leadership and management of care services, and is working towards her level 5 qualification. She has over 10 years’ experience in working in the children’s care sector. The young people, staff and professionals all like and respect registered manager. One staff member commented, ‘I feel listened to. I feel we have the best management team and staff team here. We are like a little family.’ Staff work exceptionally well as a team because of effective communication and strong leadership and management support. The registered manger has high expectations of staff to change and improve the lives of every child that they are responsible for. As a result, she carefully considers the development needs of each staff member, and works with them constantly to improve their skills. This is reflected in a stable staff team who work flexibly and

p.8

Outstanding

proactively to meet the needs of young people. Staff are well trained and are current in their practice. The organisation provides a range of training opportunities and staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge. For example, they are using research-based practice around foetal alcohol syndrome to help inform their understanding of the possible impact on a young person’s behaviours. This knowledge and understanding is discussed and implemented by the team and their awareness is heightened. One professional stated, ‘The child is well supported educationally, socially and behaviourally. There appears to be a consistent, experienced staff group.’ The home’s statement of purpose is up to date and the aims and objectives are translated into staff practice. The young person’s guide is well presented and contains all the required information. The registered manager ensures that high standards are maintained. Staff are

p.8

Outstanding

appropriately supported in developing their practice through regular and effective supervision. Safeguarding is discussed in supervision and any concerns of the young people are documented and, where appropriate, actions are taken. Similarly, any concerns around staff conduct are quickly addressed. Complaints are dealt with promptly and letters are sent to the young people. The letters are very child focused. Young people are clear about how to make complaints and they feel that their voices are listened too. The manager ensures that work with all parents and professionals is excellent. Regular reviews and updates are given and the progress of the young people is shared and celebrated. Where concerns arise, excellent partnership working ensures that swift remedial actions are taken. Where the work of partnership agencies causes concern, the manager is clear in her role and ability to challenge this. This helps to ensure that the young people are receiving the best possible

p.9

Outstanding

services and care to help them reach their full potential. A school provider commented, ’They have been very responsive, willing to discuss things and willing to challenge us on our practice. It is refreshing. Their response is excellent, as is information sharing. They have a good understanding of how we operate. We work in partnership.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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